MS. LISONBEE The Iliad and Odyssey Background

The Iliad - Homer Thetis, an nereid, is married to Peleus, a mortal Gods and goddesses attend the wedding, but nobody invites Eris, goddess of discord To get revenge on the other gods, Eris throws an apple with the words “for the fairest” between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite Each goddess claims the apple and Zeus appoints Paris, prince of Troy, as judge Each goddess offers a bribe and Paris picks Aphrodite

The Abduction of Helen Aphrodite’s bribe was the love of Helen, daughter of Zeus and Leda and the most beautiful mortal woman. While Paris visits Sparta, he takes advantage of her husband’s absence, seduces Helen, and takes her to Troy

The Retaliation Helen’s husband gathers other Greeks who promised to support him if he ever went to war They sail to Troy and start a war to get Helen back Among the Greeks are Agamemnon, Odysseus, and Achilles The war lasts 10 years because the gods are divided in their support

Advocates of Greeks- Thetis Achilles’ mother Nereid, goddess of the ocean Dipped Achilles in the river Styx when he was a baby (not in Homer’s account) When Achilles is offended, asks other gods to stop supporting the Greeks

Advocates of Greeks- Hera Goddess of marriage and queen of the gods Sided with the Greeks because Paris chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess Offered Paris kingdom  Europe and Asia

Advocates of Greeks- Poseidon God of the Sea Symbols include a trident, dolphins, and the horse Supported the Greeks because Thetis petitioned for her son Turned against Odysseus on the way home from Troy Normally opposed Athena’s favorite heroes because she won the patronage of Athens

Advocates of Greeks- Hermes Messenger of the gods Symbol is the caduceus  Makes ill mortals sleep  Represents healing

Advocates of Greeks- Athena Goddess of wisdom and strategy Symbols include helmet of invisibility, owl, and spear Offered Paris wisdom, fame, and glory in battle Supported the Greeks because they were intelligent and brave (and due to jealousy of Paris’ judgment) Supported Odysseus on his way home

Advocates of Trojans- Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty Supported the Trojans because Paris declared that she was the most beautiful of the goddesses Put a spell on Helen so she would run away with Paris

Advocates of Trojans- Ares God of war and love of fighting Supported the Trojans because he was Aphrodite’s lover Also rewarded Greek bravery Through Athena, he was wounded in battle then left

Advocates of Trojans- Apollo God of the sun, poetry, and music Symbols include the lyre and the laurel tree Was not firmly on the Trojan’s side, but punished the Greeks with disease when they displeased him Guided Paris’ arrow to Achilles’ heel because Achilles killed his son while worshipping

Advocates of Trojans- Zeus King of the gods Symbols include lightning and an eagle Helen’s father Some of his favorite heroes were Trojans, but he eventually supported the Greeks to win

Achilles Fought for Greeks Demigod- son of Thetis and Peleus Sacked a temple of Apollo near Troy Became offended when Agamemnon (leader of Greeks) demanded Briseis (captive women were traded like possessions) Refused to fight for the Greeks until Hector, a Trojan, kills Patroclus Dies when Paris shoots him

Let’s Recapitulate Thetis marries Peleus Thetis bears Achilles, tries to make him immortal Achilles grows up to be a hero in the Trojan war. At the wedding, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite argue about who’s prettiest Paris runs away with Helen as a “reward” for choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful Zeus seduces Leda, who bears Helen Many Greeks draw straws to marry Helen, Menelaus wins. Helen’s other suitors promise to support Menelaus in war, so they go to Troy when Helen runs Goddess Half-mortal Hera Aphrodite Athena

The Rest of the War Prophecy- Achilles will either live a peaceful long life and be forgotten or die young, a hero remembered forever Achilles’ mother tries to hide him, but he ends up going Achilles’ men kill priests and desecrate temple of Apollo After 10 years, Odysseus convinces men to build the Trojan horse and pretend to be defeated Trojans bring the horse into the city, have a party, and go to bed At night, concealed Greeks slaughter the Trojan men, sack the city, and carry off the women as “war prizes”

The Odyssey After 10 years of war, it took another 10 years for Odysseus to get home He left his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, at home when he left for war The anger of gods and meddling of sorceresses and monsters kept him from home

Characters- Odysseus Odysseus means “trouble” in Greek The Odyssey is the story of his 10-year journey home from Troy Pride offends Poseidon who sends challenges o slow him down

Characters- Penelope Had a child right before Odysseus left for war Pursued by 108 suitors when her husband didn’t come back Waits 20 years for her husband to come home Delays suitors by weaving Unravels work nightly

Characters- Telemachus Odysseus’ son Raised by mother and grandmother Struggles to protect Penelope from her suitors Follows the advice of Mentor Goes to seek news of Odysseus at Sparta

Sorceresses- Calypso Nymph that falls in love with Odysseus Keeps him on the island of Ogygia for seven years Offers Odysseus immortality

Sorceresses- Circe Lives on an island with enchanted animals  Men she changed Is an immortal goddess Cursed Scylla out of jealousy  Changed her from nymph to monster

Monsters- Polyphemus Cyclops- giant one-eyed monster Live in a cave near other cyclopses Son of Poseidon

Monsters- Scylla and Charybdis Scylla- had six dog heads that grabbed sailors from ships  Formerly a beautiful nymph Charybdis- lives under water and swallows ships whole  Lives near Scylla so ships have to choose one or the other Scylla and Glaucus

Monsters- Sirens Part woman, part bird Drove sailors mad with music- lured them to death

Other- Lotus Eaters Lotus flower- magical plant that causes forgetfulness Lotus eaters live only on that plant Keeps them calm